One Nation Toryism? When? (2)

William Keegan rightly points out "the absurdity of the so-called One Nation future Johnson promises", but after almost 10 years of unnecessary austerity aimed primarily at society`s least fortunate, is it not time to question whether such a thing as "One Nation Toryism" has ever existed (Brexit only belongs to the lawless "party of law and order", 06.10.19)? Not in this century certainly, with Cameron`s policy of "lower taxes, especially for the more prosperous", almost certainly to be copied by Johnson if given the chance, whilst massive cuts to health, caring and education budgets simply display callous indifference.

      If, as Michael Heseltine recently wrote in the Guardian, "one nation" is about "governing for the whole country", it would appear to have only ever existed as a piece of election propaganda (Boris Johnson has no right to call himself a one-nation Conservative, 12/09/19). Pouring money into the south, doing next to nothing either to ease the plight of the poor and black people, or to prevent tax avoidance and evasion, disqualifies practically all 20th century Tory governments from deserving a "One Nation" description. Even Disraeli, who was the first Tory prime minister to describe himself as such, was more concerned with his reforms being "window dressing" rather than methods of properly reducing the wealth gap, and he was deservedly rejected by the working class electorate in 1880.

    If history teaches us anything, it`s that "One Nation Toryism" exists only, in Keegan`s words, as a "monstrous lie", an oxymoron if ever there was one!

Tory propagandist Mark Wallace is probably right that the "Get Brexit done" message constitutes a "compelling message" for many voters, but the idea that "people are susceptible " to the "do it and move on" message is both questionable and patronising (This government is just doing its job, 15/10/19). Are we meant to forget all the hardships imposed, particularly on the weakest in society, in the last 9+ years by these Tories and their pro-austerity allies, the Lib Dems? Who can ever forget their ridiculous "all in it together" slogan which they spouted whilst simultaneously cutting taxes for the wealthiest, and imposing pay freezes on the majority?

     Clearly they are still at it; taking the electors for mugs is their speciality. In the post-Queens`s speech debate, Johnson and his fellow Cummings-primed cronies repeated their new mantra, that they`re all "one-nation Conservatives"! Michael Heseltine, not a renowned Tory lefty, recently described the myth that is one-nation Toryism as "governing for the whole country"! Surely that disqualifies all recent Tory governments from having a claim to the description? Even Disraeli, 19th century Tory prime minister and the first to describe himself as such, only attempted "window dressing" reforms rather than ones which improved lives, and was duly rejected by the electorate in 1880. Voters were not gullible then, and they won`t be deceived by such insulting nonsense now!